About

About

CONGREGATION AISH KODESH

It was just before Succos in 1992 / 5753 that two of our founders began to discuss their mutual dream to create a Makom Tefilah that would also be a center of Torah study and Kiruv. They yearned to infuse more spirituality and a new energy into their davening and learning, and were confident that others in the Woodmere community shared this desire.

They knew that a Rav, who was both a strong spiritual leader and a Talmid Chacham, were essential if their plan was to succeed. Through a remarkable display of Hashgocho Pratis they found just the right person for the task—an inspired and inspiring young Rav, named Moshe Weinberger.

On December 4, 1992 / 8 Kislev 5753 (Shabbos Parshas Vayetzei) the founders and a few individuals who responded warmly to the description of plans for the new congregation, met for Shabbos davening at their temporary home at Woodmere Academy.

Rav Weinberger chose the name Aish Kodesh to honor the memory of the holy Piazeczna Rebbe, Harav Kalonymous Kalman Shapiro, zt”l, author of Aish Kodesh—a stirring, thought-provoking sefer the Rebbe wrote during his tragically brief tenure as the Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto.

Rav Weinberger’s first words to his new congregation still perfectly define the raison d’être of Aish Kodesh: “It is the natural tendency of a Jewish soul to yearn to cling to Hashem. Life, however, places many obstacles in our paths. With Hashem’s help, our task will be to remove these obstacles one by one, so that our souls can grow closer to Him.”